Russia Files New Extradition Request For Berezovsky

Boris Berezovsky (file photo) (epa)
March 2, 2006 -- Russia's Prosecutor-General's Office filed a new request with British authorities today for the extradition of Boris Berezovsky.

In the request, Russia accuses the exiled businessman of planning to overthrow the Russian government, in violation of the constitution.

Berezovsky, who once had close ties to the Kremlin, fled Russia in 2000 after a falling out with Russian President Vladimir Putin. He received asylum in London.

Last month, Berezovsky told Reuters that he was working to overthrow Putin's regime.

That prompted British Foreign Minister Jack Straw to warn Berezovsky not to plot against Putin while he is staying in Britain.

(AP, ITAR-TASS)

Managing Russia

On December 16, 2005, RFE/RL's Washington office hosted a panel discussion on the 4 December Moscow City Duma elections, which have been widely seen as a preview of the 2007 national legislative elections.

VLADIMIR KARA-MURZA is the official representative of the liberal Union of Rightist Forces (SPS) in Washington, D.C., and a co-founder of Free Choice 2008. Kara-Murza described the elections as an "exciting time" for Russian liberals, emphasizing the "breakthrough" achieved when the SPS and the Yabloko party ran a joint list of candidates and secured seats on the city council.

ANDREI PIONTKOVSKII is the executive director of the Moscow-based Strategic Studies Center and a member of Yabloko's Federal Council. In his presentation, Piontkovskii emphasized that liberal values are under assault in the Russia of President Vladimir Putin and analyzed the importance of the SPS-Yabloko cooperation.